Buildings in Bloom

UCLA faculty artist Jennifer Steinkamp brings nature into the heart of New York City.

From 11:57 p.m. to midnight every night in May, locals and visitors from around the world have been treated to an astonishing sight in New York City's Times Square. Appearing on giant electronic billboards lining five blocks is UCLA digital media artist Jennifer Steinkamp’s animation entitled "Botanic."

In the film an uneven force blows thousands of bouquets and sprays of multi-hued flowers that fill the huge screens. As the flowers collide with each other and the edges of each frame, they break apart into a collection of seeds, twigs, leaves and petals, to the applause of wowed spectators.

Steinkamp's work of art draws a stark contrast between nature in all its glory and the towering man-made architecture surrounding it. The work is being presented as part of Midnight Moment, a monthly presentation by the Times Square Advertising Coalition and Times Square Arts.

"I'm in shock still because it's too amazing," says Steinkamp as she watches the animations loop forward and back, catching the flowers in the act of breaking up and coming back together. "I'm so happy and honored to be able to do this."